Q: With the trouble that FOX has put forth because the starting of the partnership with IndyCar, how critically are Roger Penske, Mark Miles and the entire of Penske Leisure taking how essential this yr is for the short- and long-term success of the sequence?
I’m not knocking the nice issues which have come prior to now years because the sale to Penske, however there are going to be so many eyes on the sequence with the promotion that FOX has offered already, and their dedication to your complete championship. Considering again to controversial gadgets such because the pink flag within the 2023 Indy 500, the push to cross scandal final yr, and the chance of dropping Honda and having no public curiosity from new OEM’s, I actually am each cautiously optimistic that the errors of the previous have been realized from to make sure that this yr goes on with none points, however I’m additionally cautious that complacency nonetheless exists from how shut the sector sometimes is.
Like all of us, I need to see the sequence taken to the extent it deserves to be held on outdoors of the fanbase, however I’m additionally apprehensive that this yr might be extra of the identical and find yourself stagnant amongst informal followers and racing followers that don’t sometimes comply with the sequence outdoors of the five hundred.
Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA
MARSHALL PRUETT: Roger is likely one of the biggest enterprise minds in racing, so I’m assured he’s totally conscious of how a lot is at stake together with his sequence in 2025.
Like several sporting league, IndyCar has its issues. Greater than I’d like, for certain, and greater than the folks within the paddock need, as properly. However nothing that I do know of will forestall glorious racing from going down over the following 17 occasions. Assuming the product stays at a excessive stage and new and present followers tune in a ton on FOX and switch as much as purchase numerous tickets to look at stay, what occurs in 2025 ought to be superb.
It’s within the stuff past 2025, with engine provide contracts ending after 2026, and getting a brand new automotive going, which looks as if it’s fallen from 2027 to 2028, and reducing prices with nice immediacy, the place the continued issues do fall.
However if you happen to simply need to watch the racing and luxuriate in a distraction from actual life, I’m severe once I say to disregard all the inside-baseball stuff that’s worrying, delight within the superb skills of the Patos and Newgardens and Palous and Hertas, and let time and nature deal with the remainder.
What number of extra sleeps till now we have IndyCars again on observe once more? Joe Skibinski/IMS Photograph
Q: I’m having some problem discovering the reply to this query. How will broadcast conflicts between IndyCar and NASCAR be dealt with by FOX? For instance, on March 2, IndyCar will go first on Sunday adopted by NASCAR later within the afternoon. If for some purpose IndyCar runs late, will FOX end the IndyCar race after which transfer over to NASCAR, or would it not reduce to NASCAR earlier than the top of the IndyCar race? There are loads of permutations as to how any Sunday would possibly play out. What is going to the final coverage be at FOX?
Spencer
MP: Spoke to FOX Sports activities and so they informed us there’s an hour-long buffer between Sunday’s IndyCar race and the beginning of the Cup race. In addition they mentioned it is going to be a case-by-case foundation on any future wants to change from IndyCar to NASCAR, and if a swap is critical, it is going to be made plain by its announcers and on the ticker on the backside of the display with data on the place to go inside FOX’s myriad channels.
My very own enter can be that with NASCAR rating as FOX’s prime racing sequence by a large margin, and with a deep want to transform as many NASCAR viewers into IndyCar viewers, the one strategy to kill that idea is by making Cup followers miss what they tuned in to see on FOX. So if there’s a time crunch, I’d anticipate FOX to serve its bigger Cup-loving viewers and transfer IndyCar to a different vacation spot.
Additionally, we’re solely speaking about March, April and Might earlier than streamers and NBC take the NASCAR baton from FOX, so there’s a smaller variety of alternatives for this running-late state of affairs to play out.
Q: What’s your opinion on what impression the newly cancelled Honda-Nissan merger might have on Honda’s resolution to both go away or keep after its IndyCar contract expires in 2026?
Let’s face it, Nissan is a large number, having the final quarter’s earnings fall from $2.1 billion to solely $33 million and a inventory worth lack of 25% within the final yr. However Honda will not be a lot better off, struggling a inventory worth lack of 15% within the final yr. For my part it not going to be a few new automotive, IndyCar’s worth or enlargement plans, however about what Honda has to do to financially survive. It wanted this merger, and it seems like me that leaving IndyCar is the odds-on favourite.
So, the follow-up query stays. What’s your tackle Penske’s contingency plan if this most probably scenario happens?
Glenn, Palos Verdes Property, CA
MP: Zero impression. I’ve by no means heard the Nissan factor talked about in any of the various conversations I’ve had with Honda Racing US folks because the begin of the yr. Not as soon as.
If Honda leaves, Roger Penske’s engine firm Ilmor Engineering, the place he’s co-founder and co-owner, is the plain selection to produce engines to your complete subject. Or, if there’s a want, he can search bids from Cosworth and another specialist racing engine builders to do a spec motor, however since Ilmor makes the motor for Chevy that’s received the previous couple of producers’ championships, it looks as if there’s a simple answer to pursue.
